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GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Dave Barnes was the recent guest for an installment of The Recording Academy's 5 Questions With … series. Held in Los Angeles during GRAMMY Week in February, Barnes discussed touring, songwriting versus performing live, being nominated for a GRAMMY, and his forthcoming album, Stories To Tell, among other topics.

"In the last two or three years I'd say it's about even," said Barnes on songwriting versus performing live. "I really feel comfortable and confident performing now like I do sitting and writing a song, [but] writing will always be a centimeter ahead just [because] I started before and it's still my biggest passion. That's the thing I'm most drawn to and most excited by."

Hailing from South Carolina, Dave Barnes attended Middle Tennessee State University where he studied recording industry management and began writing songs. He subsequently moved to Nashville and formed a band featuring Matt Mangano (bass), Josh Robinson (drums), Justin Rosolino (guitar), and Ben Shive (keyboards). In 2004 he released his debut album, Brother, Bring The Sun, followed by 2006's Chasing Mississippi, both of which were produced by GRAMMY nominee Ed Cash.

Barnes' following three albums, Me And You And The World (2008), Very Merry Christmas (2010) and What We Want, What We Get (2010), earned him success in the pop, rock and Christian music sectors, including placement on the Billboard 200 and Billboard's Christian Albums charts. He earned the first GRAMMY nomination of his career in 2011 for Best Country Song for penning Blake Shelton's "God Gave Me You," a song that was originally released on Barnes' What We Want, What We Get. Barnes is currently on tour, with select dates scheduled throughout the United States through April. His forthcoming album, Stories To Tell, is set to be released March 13.

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